This sermon considers the well-known saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that no one believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. The sheikh first mentions the variations of this favoured saying of the prophet, and what is meant by 'brother' - a topic also discussed in this sermon. The main part of the sermon then relates to understanding the significance of this apparently stern definition of the requirements of belief, and the relationship between this love and faith. In particular, the sheikh describes how the transformative power of this love (mahabba) for what God has decreed to endow our worship with true significance, as it enters, enlivens and ennobles our hearts.

A new DVD set of lessons by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad covering four books of Imam al-Ghazali's Ihya Ulum al-Din is now available. All profits from the sale of these DVDs will go towards the funds for the new mosque in Cambridge. Find out more and purchase the set here.

In this sermon, the sheikh discusses forgetfulness (nisyan), an inherent characteristic of mankind. Although forgetfulness is not itself sinful, it is a fundamental test for mankind becase it is the first barrier to the remembrance and worship of God that is our primary purpose as His creation. This remembrance (dhikr) is the direct opposite of forgetfulness or heedlessness (ghafla). All of us have the capacity for this remembrance because we all carry the echo within us of the great day before time when all creation bore witness to God's sovereignty. So although we are tested by Him through our tendency to forget, in His Mercy he constantly calls us and helps us to remember through the signs that surround us. Although the manifestations of our forgetfulness and the degradation that results from it are all around us, there have been and remain countless examples also of heroism, self-sacrifice and other beautiful deeds resulting from those men and women who have perceived the Reality of their condition and striven to return to it: in the words of a poet the sheikh mentions here, 'we were once friends of the angels, so let us return to that place'.

This sermon recollects the extraordinary occasion which the Eid commemorates, when Ibrahim (peace be upon him) obeyed the command of God to sacrifice his son Ismail (peace be upon him); when father and son, united in love and respect for each other, were bound even more deeply in obedience to their Lord. The sheikh relates this powerful symbol of sacrifice to the daily struggle that we all undergo to cut out of our lives what may seem most dear to us, but which actually blocks our path back to God. In His Mercy, God did not bring about Ismail's sacrifice because He has ordained that Mercy for Himself first and foremost. Similarly He has given us a defence against the distractions of the human ego, greed and ugly desires, the sword of the sharia by which we ward off the attacks of Shaytan and our hawa (baseless whims). Ultimately what we sacrifice for Him with that sword is no sacrifice at all, but a victory which brings us closer to Him.

[Apologies for the poor sound quality a short way into the English sermon, the microphone in the hall broke - it does come back after about 30 seconds.]

In this sermon, the Sheikh discusses the concept of firasat al-mu'min (intuition or insight of the believer), which was mentioned by the Prophet (peace be upon him). From His Mercy, God grants this quality to enable its recipient to perceive the true nature and character of others. Although it is present to certain extent among many people, it increases in relation to faith (iman) such that many scholars and awliya have possessed it to a remarkable degree, and the Prophet himself of course most of all. The Sheikh relates some inspiring examples of this quality, and although not many possess it to such a degree, it is important for all of us because it can help us to spend our time with others who have good intentions and high iman. Since, as the Prophet said, we will be resurrected with our companions, may God grant us all an increase in iman and firasa so that we can seek out good and shun the bad more surely.

The sheikh mentioned that many of the righteous have called those endowed with firasa the 'spies of the hearts' for their ability to perceive what lies within. The following eponymous book was noted by the Sheikh as being a personal account of one American convert's encounters with people of insight: http://www.spyoftheheart.com/